ITER NEWSLINE-

Collaboration is more important than ever

The eighteenth Management Advisory Council convened from 28-30 October at ITER Headquarters.

For the eighteenth time since the signature of the ITER Agreement, the ITER Council Management Advisory Committee (MAC) convened at the ITER Headquarters last week to assess the progress of the project and make its recommendations to the ITER Council for the next Council meeting which will take place on 19-20 November 2014.

"The ITER Project has passed the point of no return," ITER Director-General Osamu Motojima stated in his opening address. "The manufacturing activities for ITER components and plant systems are advancing at an increasing rate and the first components have started to arrive on site. Over the next months, a rapid expansion of the on-site construction activities will take place and the construction of 16 buildings will be launched."

The MAC Members could personally bear witness to the progress made on the construction site, where a milestone was reached in August 2014 with the completion of the Tokamak Complex foundations, and where the installation of the first tall pillars on site heralds the erection of the Assembly Building.

Back in the ITER Council Chamber on the fifth floor of the Headquarters building, the heads of delegation from each of the seven ITER Members reported on the manufacturing of plant systems and components underway around the world. To date, 99 Procurement Arrangements—the documents that govern the procurement of plant systems, components, or site construction by detailing all the necessary technical specifications and management requirements—have been signed between the ITER Organization and the Domestic Agencies, representing 89.8 percent of the value of in-kind construction contributions.

The MAC members appreciated the progress reported and the quality of the presentations. However, the Committee expressed its concern about the continued and persistent challenge the ITER Project faces: the need for closer collaboration between the ITER Organization and its Domestic Agencies to improve the project execution schedule. This important articulation is "more important than ever" and will be at the centre of discussion during the ITER Council meeting later this month.